The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 133 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Ohio State followed up its national championship by going 12-0 in the 2025 regular season, before faltering down the stretch. The Buckeyes lost to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game (13-10) and then fell to Miami in the CFP quar- terfinals (24-14), manhandled by both at the line of scrimmage. Head coach Ryan Day has lost only 12 games in seven-plus seasons, four of them to Michigan, and has always had his team in conten- tion for a national title late in the sea- son. This year looks like it'll be more of the same. Nobody knew how longtime NFL coach Matt Patricia would do as the defensive coordinator last year, b u t h e a n s we r e d all those questions and then some. He had elite talent and maximized it, with the Buckeyes finish- ing No. 1 in the FBS in both scoring and total defense. Day went back to the NFL well with his offensive coordinator hire this offseason, tapping Arthur Smith as the replacement for offensive coordina- tor Brian Hartline, who's now the head coach at South Florida. Smith hasn't coached in college since 2010, when he was a defensive intern at Ole Miss, but the reacclimation process is easier with great players all over the field. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound Carlsbad, Calif., native, was tremendous in his first season as a starter and traveled to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist. He completed 77 percent of his throws for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns with 8 interceptions. Carnell Tate was the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft, but wide receiver is hardly a concern even with Hartline, who was also the position coach, out of the picture. Junior Jeremiah Smith is a Heisman candidate himself, after haul- ing in 87 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdown receptions are the most by any Big Ten receiver in their first two years in college. Five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr., the No. 1 wideout in the 2026 class, will step into the lineup alongside Smith and senior Brandon Innis, who reeled in 36 grabs for 271 yards and 3 scores last fall. Sayin, Smith and sophomore running back Bo Jackson make up one of the most prolific skill position trios in the country. Jackson, a 6-foot, 217-pound Cleveland product, checked in No. 5 in the Big Ten with 1,090 rushing yards last season. The offensive line wasn't good enough a g a i n s t t h e b e s t te a m s , w i t h O S U combining for only 103 rushing yards in losses to Indiana (53) and Miami (45), but four starters are back, including a pair of second-team All-Big Ten performers on the left side in redshirt junior Austin Siereveld at tackle and se- nior Luke Montgomery at guard. OSU had three defenders selected in the first 11 picks of the NFL Draft — line- backers Arvell Reese (No. 5, New York Giants) and Sonny Styles (No. 7, Wash- ington Commanders) and safety Caleb Downs (No. 11, Dallas Cowboys), so there are questions as to how Patricia's group will reload. Only one starter is back on the de- fensive line — redshirt senior end Ke- nyatta Jackson Jr. — but OSU went to the transfer portal for reinforcements. How those pan out could determine how far the Buckeyes go in 2026, but Jackson is primed for a big season. He exploded for 11 TFL and 6.5 sacks a year ago. Junior safety Jaylen McClain may not be as good as Downs, but he's the stud on the back end of the defense. He finished last season with 53 tackles and 3 pass breakups, collecting third-team All-Big Ten recognition. It's only natural he takes a big step forward with more responsibil- ity. ❑ Ohio State Has Offensive Firepower But Must Reload On Defense Junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is one of only two Buckeyes in history to record mul- tiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons, joining Marvin Harrison Jr. on that short list. PHOTO COURTESY OHIO STATE ATHLETICS 2026 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2025 Result Sept. 5 BALL STATE — Sept. 12 at Texas W, 14-7 Sept. 19 KENT STATE — Sept. 26 ILLINOIS W, 34-16 Oct. 3 at Iowa — Oct. 10 MARYLAND — Oct. 17 at Indiana L, 13-10 Oct. 31 at USC — Nov. 7 OREGON — Nov. 14 NORTHWESTERN — Nov. 21 at Nebraska — Nov. 28 MICHIGAN W, 27-9 REASONS FOR OPTIMISM • Ohio State hardly loses • Returning production on offense • Star power Ohio State typically has one of the most talented rosters in the country, and this year's is no different, especially on offense. REASONS FOR CONCERN • Recreating defensive magic • New offensive coordinator • QB Julian Sayin's next step Ohio State was great, but not great enough, last season. There's still more to prove for the Buckeyes to make it back to the final game. GAME 12 • OHIO STATE BUCKEYES • NOV. 28 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 62-52-6 (2010 OSU win vacated) First Meeting: U-M 34, OSU 0 (Oct. 16, 1897, in Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: OSU 27, U-M 9 (Nov. 29, 2025, in Ann Arbor) Head Coach: Ryan Day, 82-12 at Ohio State (eighth full year) and overall 2025 In Review: 12-2 overall, 9-0 Big Ten Final 2025 Ranking: No. 5 AP, No. 6 coaches Returning Starters: 11 (7 offense, 3 de- fense, 1 specialist) Last Bowl Appearance: 2025 (CFP quarter- final vs. Miami, L 24-14) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Julian Sayin (3,610 yards, 32 TD) Rushing: Bo Jackson (1,090 yards, 6 TD) Receiving: Jeremiah Smith (1,243 yards, 12 TD) Tackles: Jaylen McClain (53) Sacks: Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (6.5) Interceptions: Jermaine Mathews Jr. (2)